Floor sanding machine



F, 25, 1360 H. L MYERS ammfis FLOOR SANDING MACHINE Filed March 12, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet '1,

29%. 25,, 3938. H. L. MYERS FLOOR SANDING MACHINE 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed March 12, 1955 Patented Feb. 25, 1936 'U N I T ED STATE-S- PAT ENT OF F 'I C E FLOOR SANDING MACHINE Application March 12, 1935, Serial No. 10,663

10 Claims.

or the rear caster. Itis found in: practicethat machines ofthis characterpossess the; disadvantage that the sanding drum chatterswith relation to the floor and produces defects in the: floor sur- 201 face. To overcome the chattering it-has been-the.- practice to resiliently mount the sanding drum;

butthis has been accompanied by the disadvantage that the Weight of themachineis notproperly disposed. with relation to the drum and further that the drum is not constantly in the-properrelation with the dust-collecting means.

Thepresent invention overcomes the above disadvantages and while in itsbroaderaspect, it is capable of embodimentinnumerous-forms, apre- 30 ferredv embodimentthereof is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a fragmentary side view of a ma-.

chine, with parts broken away,-to show the novel features; Fig. 2 is atop planview of themae chine, with the motor removed and parts broken away; Fig. 3 is a detail view of the dust-conduit. holding means; Fig. 4 isa. detail view of the. resilient mounting means; Fig. 5. isa. detail View of the front retaining means. for the dust con.- duit; Fig. 6 is a side view of the machine showing. the. belt cover; Fig. '7 is an enlargedsection on line l--! of Fig. 6., and. Fig. 8 isan, enlarged section on line 88 of. Fig. 6.,

tion includes a frame or body member I having a sanding drum 2 mounted therein for rotation on an axis which is fixed with relationto, theframe. A driving motor 3 is carried by a removable base 4, which latter is detachably fixed to the frame I in a manner hereinafterv described.

The machine is carried by acaster. wheel 6 at the rear and by truck wheels 1 intermediate its ends. An operating push handle -8..is provided which is fixed to the rear of the framaso that by resiliently mounting either; the sanding Referring to the drawings,, the presentinver r the machine may be guided in its movements. In accordance with the present invention, the truck member includes wheels I mounted on arms 9 at each side of the machine. The arms 9 are formed. as a part of a sustainer frame Ill (Fig. 4) which is carried on a supporting shaft H journaled in suitable bosses l2 formed in the sides of the frame I. The sustainer frame I0 is further provided with a depending arm M at one side thereof and with forwardly projecting portions l at the front. A plurality of coiled springs 16 are carried between the top of the frame member I and the forwardly projecting parts l5 of the adjusting member ID, the springs being disposed about headed pins ll, which project from the frame and extend freelythrough suitable openings in the parts l5. It will thus be seen that the sustainer frame In is urged about its pivotal support I l' in a clockwise direction in Fig. l by thesesprings, and there is, therefore, a tendency for the wheels 1 to be forced down against the floor.

Another coiled expansion spring I8 works in opposition to the springs l6 and comprises a part of an assembly which includes a rod l9 having its forward end thrust against the am M of the frame and having a shoulder 20 at such end against which the forward end of the spring l8 bears. The rear end of the rod slidingly extends through an adjusting sleeve 2| that is threaded in a bushing 22 which, in turn, is mounted in a boss 23 at the upper rear end portion of the frame I. The bushing 22 is adjustably held in the boss 23 by a set-screw 24. The spring l8 encircles the rod IS with its forward end thrust against the shoulder 20 and its rear end thrust against the adjusting sleeve 2|. It is apparent that the spring l8 acts in conjunction with its associated parts to urge a rocking movement of the sustainer frame I!) against the action of the springs 16- and that the tension of the spring I8 is varied by either the adjustment of the sleeve 2 l in the bushing 22 or an adjustment of the sleeve and bushing together in the carrying boss 23. Upon a loosening of the screw 24, the thrust assembly just-described may be bodily removed from the carrying boss 23.

A manual movement of the truck member is accomplished through a lever arm 26 which extends rearwardly from and is a part of the susd tainer frame. At its rear end, the arm 26 is connected to a rod 28, which extends outwardly and upwardly through the top'of the frame I and at its upper end connects. to. an adjusting lever 30. pivoted onthe push handle 8. The adjusting Qil lever 30 is pivotally carried by the upper end portion of the handle transversely thereof and has releasable engagement with a notched segment 32 carried by the handle in a manner well known in the art. It is evident that a downward movement of the outer end of the lever 30 will impart an upward movement to the truck wheels I, and that a raising of such lever will cause a lowering of the truck wheels. When it is desired to lift the sanding drum out of contact with the fioor, the lever 30 is moved to its uppermost position, so that the truck wheels 1 are moved downwardly.

It will be evident that as the truck wheels 7 are raised, the weight of the machine will be thrown more and more on the sanding drum 2. In order to obtain a high sanding pressure and consequently, a deep cut, the truck wheels l will be raised until they carry substantially none of the weight of the machine, and touch the floor only when an irregularity in the surface is encountered. However, the wheels are at all times substantially in contact with the floor, so that they act as stabilizers to prevent any rocking of the machine. Inasmuch as the machine is carried by fixed supports at each end, namely, the caster 5 and the sanding drum, there is no possibility of chattering of the sanding drum.

This condition is caused by a resonant rocking of the machine about an axis disposed between the sanding drum and the rear support. The rocking may be started by the drum suddenly being raised by an irregularity in the floor which sets up an oscillation of the entire machine. Inasmuch as the drum is moved vertically by the chattering, marks in the form of spaced ridges are left to mar the floor surface.

With the control lever 30 in substantially the neutral position shown, the spring I8 is adjusted, so that the truck wheels I carry substantially none of the load; in other words, the downward thrust of the springs I6 is entirely overcome. The proportion of load carried by the truck wheels can obviously be adjusted by the adjusting screw 2| which is operable to increase or decrease the tension of the spring l8. Under some conditions of use, it will be desirable to obtain a shallower cut by the use of a lighter sanding pressure, and for this purpose the tension of the spring l8 may be decreased, so that more of the weight of the machine will be carried by the truck wheels 1.

A dust conduit 34 is provided to collect particles removed from the floor surface by the sanding drum, and forms a part of a vacuum dust collector system. At its forward end the dust conduit 34 is in constant, closely disposed relation to the revolving sanding drum 2. This relation is obviously maintained since both the sanding drum and the dust conduit are carried in fixed relation to the frame I and to each other. It is frequently necessary to remove the dust conduit for cleaning purposes and this has heretofore been accomplished by removing a plurality of bolts by which this member is fastened. At its rear end, the conduit 34 has flanged abutment transversely of the machine against the adjacent open side of a fan housing 36 with which it communicates. However, instead of bolting these two members together, as is the common practice, the present invention provides a quick detachable connection which includes dowel pins 38 projecting from the fan housing 36 at the top and bottom thereof and received in openings in the flange of the conduit 34, and a spring pressed detent 40 (Fig. 3) bearing against the dust conduit thereof. A spring 42 urges the detent 40 into engagement with a recess 43 formed in the rear of the dust conduit 34 in opposition to the fan housing and hence presses this member firmly against the fan housing 36. The spring is carried within a suitable bracket 44 and is compressed between the detent 40 at one end and an adjusting screw 46 threaded into the bracket 44 at its opposite end. The bracket 44 is pivotally connected by a pintle 48 to a boss 50 formed on the frame I. It will thus be seen that the bracket is adapted to be swung out of position, not only to disengage the detent 40, but to swing to unobstructing position when the dust conduit 34 is removed.

The frame I has a drum housing part 5| disposed rearwardly of the drum to which theforward end of the conduit 34 is detachably connected in a manner to permit detachment merely by a rearward movement of the conduit. This connection comprises, in the present instance, a vertically disposed web portion 52 projecting rearwardly from the housing 5i and having a horizontally disposed notch 53 in its rear side. The conduit 34 at the central top portion of its forward end is provided with a forked portion 54 adapted to straddle the web 52 and provided crosswise of is opening with a bolt or pin 55 for engaging in the notch 53 of the web. In use, the bolt 55 is seated in the notch 53 and serves to support the forward end of the dust conduit 34 in a fixed vertical position. Accidental rearward movement of the dust conduit is prevented by the dowel pins 33 and the detent 40. It will thus be seen that the dust conduit is fixed with relation to the sanding drum whenever the machine is in use and when it is desired to remove the conduit it is only necessary to! release the spring-pressed detent 40 from engagement with the conduit and to pull the conduit out of engagement with the dowel pins 38 and the notch 53.

In order to further facilitate the detachability of parts of the machine and to reduce to a minimum the effort required to remove parts for cleaning and repair, the present invention further provides a novel connection for the driving motor base 4. The motor 3 is secured to the base in any suitable manner. The base is provided with a slot 51 extending inwardly from its rear edge and with a slot 58 intermediate its edges. The slot 58 is enlarged at the rear end, nearest the slot 51, as at 59. The slot 53 is adapted to cooperate with a headed retaining member 60, the shank of which fits closely in the slot, while the head is countersunk in the slot. A screw BI is threaded into the frame I and has its shank engaged in the rear slot 51 and its head adapted to have clamping engagement with the surface of the base 4. When it is desired to remove the motor base, it will be seen that it is only necessary to release the clamping engagement of the screw 6| at which time the motor base may be freely moved forwardly until the headed member 60 registers with the enlarged end 59 of the slot 58. At

this time the motor base may be lifted from the at points opposite the center of the rear portionhere shown.

meme-s In order to'make the drive mechanism accessiblefor repair and-adjustment, a quick-detach able cover is provided for the drive belts and pulleys and includes a casing 78 generally of in verte'd V-shap'ed configuration, which completely encloses. said parts. The casing 10 has three points of attachment with the frame 1, two of which are similar, and are disposed adjacent the free ends of the casing. The third is disposed in the crotch of the V.

As shown in Fig. 7, each of the two similar lower supports includes a keeper plate 13 fixed to the frame I andhaving an outwardly and upwardly extending bracket arm 15,- which terminates in a face parallel to the body of the keeper plate to form a recess for the reception of a web 11 carried by and depending from the casing 10. A detent I9 is carried in the keeper plate and is urged outwardly against-the web 11 by a spring 8|. The keeper plate and detent serve to hold the lower ends of the casing against vibration and to center the casing in position around the belts and pulleys.

The third support for the casing is shownin Fig. 8, and includes a lug 83 extending downwardly from the crotch of the casing and having its lower end notched to straddle a bolt 85 projecting from the frame I. The lug 83 is clamped firmly to the frame I preferably by the use of Winged-nut 86 threaded on the bolt 85.

The entire casing is positioned merely by slipping the webs 11 into the keepers 13 in engagement with the spring pressed detents 19. This movement brings the lug 83 down around the bolt 89 in position to be clamped by the nut 86.

While the various features of the invention have been described in connection with a particular machine, it will be appreciated that various changes may be made in the form and disposition of the parts in the several detachable connections above-described, and. that numerous changes may be made in the sustainer assembly without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine of the class described, a frame, a sanding drum mounted therein, suction creating means carried by the frame and including a fan housing having an open side, a suction conduit leading from adjacent the sanding drum to the open side of said fan housing, means detachably engaging said conduit with the frame near the'sanding drum, and means including a springpressed detent for detachably holding the conduit in connection with said housing.

2. In a machine of the class described, a frame, a sanding drum mounted therein, suction creating means carried by the frame and including a fan housing having an open side, a suction conduit leading from adjacent the sanding drum to the open side of said fan housing, means detachably engaging said conduit with the frame near the sanding drum, and means including a springpressed detent for detachably holding the conduit in connection with said housing and releasable from the housing by a swinging movement.

3. In a machine of the class described, a portable frame, a sanding drum and suction creating means mounted therein, the latter including a fan housing, a suction conduit leading from adj acent said sanding drum to and communicating with the interior of said fan housing through a side thereof, means detachably engaging the end of said conduit adjacent the sanding drum to said frame, and means detachably engaging the opp'os'ite end of said conduit to said housing, said latter means includinga dowel pin connection of the conduit" with the housing and a spring-pressed detent swingingly' carried by the frame" and adapted to engagethe' conduit to retain it in abutment with the housing.

4 In a machine of the class described, a; portable frame, a sanding'drum and a suction creating means mounted therein, said means including'a housing having an open side disposed in a vertical plane lengthwise or the frame, a suction conduit extending. from adjacent the sanding drum to said housing and communicating with the interior thereof through its open side, a detachable slip joint connection between the said frame and the end portion of the conduit adjacent the sanding drum, and means carried by a side of the frame for exerting pressure against said conduit'in opposition to said housing to hold one in engagement with the other, said holding means being swingable relative to the frame to place it in unobstructing position during removal of the conduit.

5. In a machine of the "class described, a portable frame, a driving motor having a base removably seating on the frame top, said base having. slots therein, one of said slots extending inwardly in exposed position from a side of said base and the other of said slots lying wholly within the confines of the base with its axis parallel to the axis of said first slot and having the end nearest said first slot enlarged, a headed stud carried by the frame and having its shank engaging the sides of said second slot and its head overlying the side edges thereof and adapted to pass through the enlarged portion of the slot when in register therewith, and a screw member threaded into the frame and having its shank received in said first slot and its head in clamping engagement with the top of the base to releasably retain the base in interlocked engagement with said headed stud.

6. In a machine of the class described, a portable frame, a driving motor having a base removably seating on the frame top, means to fix said base with relation to said frame top including a projection carried by said frame and adapted to have sliding engagement with said base, said base having a slot extending inwardly in exposed position from one edge thereof, and a screw member projecting from the frame and having its shank received in said slot and its head in clamping engagement with the top of the base to releasably retain the base in engagement with said projection.

7. In a machine of the class described, a portable frame, a driving motor carried by the frame, a sanding drum and suction creating means carried by the frame, drive belts to drive the sanding drum and suction creating means from said motor, a casing surrounding said belts, and means to releasably engagesaid casing with the frame, including three spaced web supports formed from said casing, and spring-pressed detents to releasably engage two of said web supports, and clamping means to engage the other of said web supports and retain it against said frame.

8. In a machine of the class described, a portable frame, a driving motor carried by the frame, a sanding drum and suction creating means carried by the frame, drive belts to drive the sanding drum and suction creating means from said motor, an inverted V-shaped casing surrounding said belts, and means to releasably engage said casing with the frame, including three spaced supports formed from said casing two of said supports being adjacent the free ends of the casing and the third disposed in the crotch of the V spring-pressed detents to releasably engage the two supports adjacent the free ends, and clamping means to engage the other of said supports and retain it against said frame.

9. In a machine of the class described, a frame, a sanding drum mounted therein, suction creating means carried by the frame and including a fan housing having an open side facing transversely of the frame, a suction conduit leading from adjacent the sanding drum to the open side of said fan housing, means detachably engaging said conduit with the frame near the sanding drum, and means carried by the frame in opposition to the open side of said fan housing and acting on the conduit at points opposite the fan housing to releasably hold said conduit in abutting relation with the open side of said housing.

10. In a machine of the class described, a portable frame having two transversely spaced longitudinally extending wall portions, a sanding drum and a suction creating means mounted in said frame, said means including a housing disposed adjacent to one of said frame walls and having an open side disposed in a vertical plane lengthwise of the frame toward the other of said walls, a suction conduit extending from adjacent the sanding drum to said housing and communicating with the interior thereof through said open side, a detachable connection between the side frame and the end portion of the conduit adjacent the sanding drum, and means carried by the wall of the frame toward which the open side of said housing faces and exerting pressure against said conduit in opposition to said housing to hold one in engagement with the other.

HARRY L. MYERS. 

